Heritage New Zealand

Heritage New Zealand – Pouhere Taonga

First established in 1954 by Act of Parliament, the later 1993 legislation prescribed the New Zealand Historic Places Trust’s work, powers and functions. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust became an autonomous Crown entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004 which means that the Ministry for Culture and Heritage administers government funding to the Trust and it is accountable to the Crown for that funding.

As from April 2014, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust is now Heritage New Zealand. The new name is one of a number of changes included in the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act which completes the organisation’s transition from NGO to Crown Entity. The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act came into force on 20 May 2014.

Contact details

The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act brings the structure of the re-named Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in line with its status as a Crown entity. An eight-member Board will be established by Ministerial appointment and the existing Māori Heritage Council will be retained in its current size and form.

Wyatt Creech - Chair (April 2018)

Mary Neazor (April 2018)

John Clarke (April 2019)

Sir Pita Sharples (April 2019)

Chris Cochran (April 2020)

Kim Ngarimu (April 2020)

David Nicoll (April 2020)

Bryce Barnett (April 2020)

The Board is assisted by the Māori Heritage Council which has the function to protect and register wahi tapu, advocate for Māori heritage and assist the Trust to develop and reflect a bicultural view when exercising its power and functions. Members of the Council are appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage after consultation with the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Board.

John Clarke - Chair (April 2019)

Patrick McGarvey (April 2018)

Kim Ngarimu (April 2020)

Naida Glavish (April 2019)

Sir Pita Sharples (April 2019)

Paul White (April 2020)

Liz Mellish (April 2020)

Chris Cochran (April 2020)

Kim Ngarimu (April 2020)

Historic Places amendment toolkit

This toolkit has been prepared as a general guide by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, aimed at former Historic Places Trust Branch committees looking to establish themselves as Charitable Trusts or Incorporated Societies. The toolkit includes guidelines for establishing a Charitable Trust or Incorporated Society, and funding options for heritage institutions.